Pneumatic stacker.



Patented Dec. I2, [899.

w. N. SPRINGER. PNEUMATIG STAGKER.

(Application led Apr. 16, 1898.)

(No Model.)

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SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 639,187', dated December 12, 1899.

Application filed April 16, 1896. Serial No. 587,834. (No model.)

ings, and to the letters ofreference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

Figure l is a side elevation of a sufficient portion of a thresher and separator to illustrate the manner of applying thereto my improved stacker mechanism. Fig. 2 is a sectional view on the line 2 2, Fig. l. Fig. 3 is a vertical section on the line 3 3, Fig. l. Fig.

a is a view on the line 4 4 of Fig. I.

In the drawings, A indicates generally the rear part of a thresher orseparator. This mechanism may be of the ordinary forms or of any preferred sort. At the rear end it is provided with the means for collecting the straw, chaff, dsc., delivered from the separating devices, with a fan or ejector with a ver tical duct or passage from the fan for the straw, risc., to be carried upward, and with a supporting platform or table above the rear end of the separator.

A' indicates the rear end of the straw-separating table. From this the straw is dropped and received in a receptacle at B. The latter is some distance below the separating-table A', and the chaff and other fine particles which are blown out by the winnowing-fan C are also delivered to this receptacle B.

The fan D is situated in a casing D', which is secured to the side of the separator A and lies entirely outside of it. `Preferably the fan is situated relatively somewhat low, so that the straw, chaff, dto., can be readily carried downward toward it and drawn into the eye at d. The duct or passage for delivery from the fan is indicated by D2. Y

The table or support above referred to on the top of the separator is indicated generally by E, it being formed by sills and girths and other suitable frame-bars. On this frame there are supported a series of bars c2, of steel, and antifriction-rolls c.

F is a geared ring which is mounted between the upper rolls and the lower ones of the bars e2, said ring resting upon the rollers c'and being held down by those at e. This ring F can be rotated in either direction by any suitable mechanism of the sort now well known. I prefer, however, one such as is illustrated.

The ring has a downwardlyextending ange provided with worm-teeth f, with which engages a reversible worm actuated by suitable gearing adapted to impart a part of rotation to the ring to the right and then a corresponding part of a rotation to the left. Upon this ring F are situated the devices which constitute the delivery-duct and the means for,

adjusting it both longitudinally and vertically. This duct consists of three principal parts-namely, a curved hood-like section G, an outer section G2, and an intermediate section G. The section G is supported by a hinge at g, which is at the center of the curvature of part G, this hinge being connected to the section G by means of one or more brackets, which are rigidly secured to said section G. When so supported, it will be seen it can move inward and downward and have its inner end travel in parallelism with the part G. be thrown vertically up or down, though a practically airtight joint is preserved. The outer section G2 slides or telescopes in and out upon the part G', and therefore provides for the lengthening` or shortening of the duct as a whole, and said section G2 is also axially adjustable about the section G'.

The adjusting vertically of the sections G and G2 is effected as follows: The ring H has Securedr to it upwardly-projecting arms or bars Il', which at their upper ends are connected by a crossrod h. This rod either has secured to it Oris formed with a nut I. Jindicates a second ring which is secured to the section G and carries upwardlyextending arms or bars J J'. K are brace-rods which extend down from the upper end of the bars J and are securely fastened to the ring or rotary platform, and at K there are supplementary brace-bars extending from the rear part of the base to the upper part of the ring IVhen it is so moved, its outer end will IOO J. It will be readily seen that modifications can be made in this part of themechanism without departing from its essential features, as derrick-like mechanisms are well known for purposes similar to that accomplished by the parts at H H' M, ctr-c.

L is a bearing supported by the cross-rod l, which joins the bars J. In this bearing there is mounted the shaft M, having a smooth journal in said bearing and havinga threaded part at its upper end which passes through and engages with the' aboved-described nut I.

M is a hand-wheel rigid with the shaft M, and by means of it the shaft can be turned in such a way as to compel the threaded part of the nut I to either draw upward on the sections G' and G2 or can be used to let them down, as desired.

The mechanism for adjusting the duct G2 longitudinally on the part G' is constructed and operated as follows: At a suitable distance from the inner end of the section G there is a ring N, more or less similar to that at H, and the two rings are joined together by stay-rods O, rigidly secured to both. O is a rod connectingthe lowersides of the rings N and H, and O2 is a rod extending from the upper part of the ring N to the upper part of arms H. The ringNsurrounds the sections G and G2 loosely` and permits the outer section G2 to freely move through it, the last said section resting on one or more rollersp, mounted on said ring or the frame of which the ring is a part. The parts H, N, O, O', and O2constitute a frame, and that part of it outside of the ring H is practically independent of the duct-sections G and G2, and is adapted to not only give them support but also effect their adjustment vertically on the hinge g.

While I have shown the part at N as extending continuously around the duct, it will beunderstood that for the purpose of supporting the latter it consists, essentially, of the concave bar-like portion of the ring which is situated loosely below the duct and upon which lower concave portion the weight is taken.

P is a rope or chain passing over a sheave at p3, supported on the ring H, and sheave p', supported on the ring N, and by means of the hand-crank p2 it can he caused to move in either direction. At Q it is secured to the inner end of the section G2. When the cord is moved in one direction, the section G2 is moved outward, and when moved in the opposite direction the part G2 is drawn inward to shorten t'heduct. lt will be seen that these parts constitute a two-part mechanism for telescopically moving the slidable duct-sec tion, one part in this case consisting of the rope and the pulley p', supported upon the bar or bars of the carrier-frame, and the other part consisting of the pulley at p and the crank p2. Atthe date of this patentit is well known that other devices having two equivalent parts can be employed for this purpose.

It will be seen that with the device above described not only can the duct for the air and straw be elongated or shortened at willeven when in use, but also that it can be elevated and lowered at the outer end and can be at the same time reciprocated horizontally by means of the ring at F.

As above stated, the outer tube or ductsection G2 extends loosely through the outer ring N, and besides being longitudinally adjustable, as described, is adapted to be rotated axially about the intermediate ductsection G. For this purpose cords or cables U are connected at their upper ends to said outer duct-section and extend downwardly therefrom to points within reach of an operator standing on the ground' at the side of the machine. (See Fig. l.)

The rope or chain P is of such length as to always have incident to it moreor less slack, sufficient to permit an axial rotation of the outer duct-section and allow the mouth of the hood R to be turned up in one direction or the other far enough to deliver the straw laterally, as desired.

At the outer or delivery end of the section G2 there is an adjustable hood or mouthpiece R. It is formed of several overlapping or telescopin g sections r r.

S are rings or bands secured to the outer ends of the duct-sections, which have downwardly-extending arms s, which arms are riveted together. The outer arm is extended to form a lever, as at S. To the end of the latter there is attached a rope or cord, by which the sections r r can be adjusted. When draft is exerted on the cord S2, the sections r r are drawn out, and the mouth of the duct is decidedly curved.

At T there are short chain sections connecting the rings or bands S together and serving to limit the movements of the latter.

It will be seen that the stacker mechanism is practically a unitary structure or self-contained and that part beginning with and extending outwardly from the ring or rotary base F may be regarded as independent of the rest of the threshing mechanism, the elevating device for adjusting vertically the outer end of the duct-sections, as well as the means for effecting the sliding or telescoping of the outer section, being all supported upon this rotary base.

One of the advantageous features of the present structure consists in providing for the extensible delivery-chute a simple, powerful, and compact mechanism for supporting the outer portion, this consisting of a bar or bars extending outward from points near the rotary base to points outside of the inner end of the outer sliding section and combining therewith a means for exerting upward draft upon the outer end of the bar or frame and transmitting that draft to the rotary base.

It will be seen that power elevating devices ICO TIO

are provided at the base, which exert the draft upon the support or truss-like device at O2, that extends to the forward part of the supplemental frame. Preferably I receive the downward pressure upon a strut or derrick mechanism consisting ofthe concave bar, ring, or upright I-I, which is hinged Yto therotary base and is projected at H' to extend suficiently far to extend above the longitudinal axis of the duct to have the supporting device O2 take a direction which is inclined backward and upward. The ring or concave bar N, as above described, surrounds the outer ductsection loosely, but is adapted to assist in supporting it because of the rigid connection of this ring or bar to the parts on the rotary base and because of the tension of the support at O2.

In order to have the machine simple and strong, I generally prefer to have one of the parts of the derrick-like holding` and adjusting mechanism hinged to the rotary base, such as the part atl-I H, and one of the parts rigid with the base, such as .I J K. Thelatter may be shorter or longer than is shown,

according to the circumstances.

While I have shown ascrew-rod at M asone of the elements of the elevating devices for vertically adjusting the outer end of the duct, I do not limit myself thereto, as it is well known to mechanics that other power devices can be readily vsubstituted for this purpose. In fact, there are numerous modifications which will suggest themselves to those skilled in such machines and which will not require Y departure from the essential features of the invention, these relating to the supplemental supporting bar or frame for the telescoping tube, to the employment of a means supported on the supplemental frame for sliding` the outer duct section, and to the employment of a vertically-adjusting device constructed and operating upon the principles set forth.

What I claim isl. In astraw-stacking mechanism, the combination of the separator, the fan or ejecting mechanism at the side of the separator, the uptake-duct from the fan, the table or supporting-frame upon the top of the separator, the straw-and-air duct having the sections G and G2, the section G2 being movable longitudinally along and axially around section G', and both of said sections being vertically adjustable at their outer ends, substaniially as set forth.

2. In a straw-stacking mechanism, the combination with the separator, the fan or ejector, and the uptake-duct, of the delivery-duct which is vertically adjustableat the outer end and comprises the two sections G' and G2, section G2 being adjustable longitudinally along and axially around section G', substantially as set forth.

3. In a straw-stacking mechanism, the combination'with the separator, the fan or ejecting mechanism, and the `uptake-duct from the fan, of the delivery-duct having the two sections G and G2, the section G2 being longitudinally adjustable on the section G', and the outwardly-extending framework rigidly connected at its inner end to the section G and at its outer end loosely surrounding the section G2 and adapted to support both of said sections and to permit them to telescope inside of theouter end of the said frame, substantially as set forth.

4. In a straw-stacking mechanism, the combination with the separator, the fan or ejecting` mechanism and the uptake-duct, of the delivery-duct formed of an inner and an outer section telescopically joined, a rotary base for the delivery-duct, and the frame rigidly connected'with the inner section G and extending outward to points beyond the inner end of the outer section and provided with rollers or rests for said outer section, substantially as set forth.

5. In a straw-stacking mechanism, the oombination with the separator, the fan or eject- "ing mechanism and the uptake-duct, ot' the horizontally-rotating support, the duct-section G on said support, the delivery duct-section adapted to move relatively to the section G4 while preserving an air-tight joint, the verticallyadj usta ble framework connected to the movable delivery duct-section, said frame having upwardly extending arms H', the frame secured to the rotating support and to the inner section G and the screw-rodconnecting the last said frame with the verticallyadjustable frame, substantially as set forth.

6. In a straw-stacking mechanism, the combination with the separator, the fan or ejecting mechanism and the uptake-duct, of the rotary support, the duct-section G on said support, the delivery-duct connected by a hinge to the section G, the forward projecting adjustable frame having bands as at H and N; the stay-rods O, the truss-rods O', and O2, and the mechanism carried by the horizontally-rotating support for vertically adjusting said frame, substantially as set forth.

7. In astraw-stacking mechanism, the combination with the separator, the fan or ejecting mechanism and the uptakeduct,ofthelon gitudinally-extensible delivery-duct formed in two telescopic sections, the framework secured to the inner section and extending out-- ward to points beyond the inner end of the outer section, the cord or chain P supported on said frame and connected to the inner end of the outer sections and means supported on said frame for moving the said cord or chain for telescoping the outer section, subst-antially as set forth.

S. Ina straw-stacker, the combination with a supporting-standard, of two rings I-I and N connected together, the ring Il being attached to thestandard, the pipe-section G secured to the ring I-I, the pipe-section G2 sliding through the ring N and over thepipesection G', sheaves carried by the standard and the ring N, andan endless cable mounted IOO on the said sheaves and connected to the pipesection G2, substantially as set forth.

9. In a pneumatic straw-stacker, the combination of the ejector-fan, the duct leading therefrom, the rotary base, the inner duct-section, the hinge interposed between the inner duct-section and the rotary base, the outer duct-section slidable telescopically on the innersection, powerdevices for sliding the outer section, said power devices extending from points outside the inner end of the outer section to points inside thereof, a support supplemental to both duct-sections, for holding the said power devices, and means for adjustably sustaining said supplemental support in eitherof two or more positions vertically, substantially as set forth.

10. In a pneumatic stacker, the combination of an ejector-fan, a duct leading therefrom, a rotary base, a duct-section connected to the rotary base, a horizontal hinge for su pporting said inner section, an outer section slidable telescopically on the inner section, means for supporting the said duct-sections adjustably, vertically, a rope or flexible draftA device for sliding the outer section and connected thereto, two wheels or supports for the exible draft device held in fixed relations to each other, one situated outside of the inner end of the outer d uct-section and one situated inside of said end, substantially as set forth.

ll. Ina pneumatic straw-stacker, the combination of the ejector-fan, the duct leading from the fan, the rotary base, the duct-secltion connected to said rotary base, the outer duct-section slidable telescopically on the inner duct-section, both said duct-sections being vertically adjustable at their outer ends, means on the rotary base for adjusting vertically the outer ends of the duct-sections, mechanism for telescopically sliding the outer duct-sections having a rope or iiexible draft device connected to the sliding section, one or more bars, supplemental to both the ductsections, extending from points adjacent to the inner end of the inner section to points outside of the inner end of the outer section, an inner support for the flexible draft device adjacent to the inner end of the inner section, and a second support for said draft device carried by said bar or bars at points outside of the inner end of the outer section, substantially as set forth.

, l2. In a pneumatic stacker, the combination of an ejector-fan, the duct leading from the fan, a rotary base, a duct-section connected to said rotary base, an outer ductsection telescopically connected to the inner duct-section, one or more supportingbars held rigidly in parallelism with the inner ductsection and extending to points beyond the inner end of the outer duct-section,and a twopart mechanism for telescopically moving t-he outer section, having one part supported on the said bar or bars and the other part supported at the inner end of the inner duct-section, substantially as set fort-h.

13. In a pneumatic stacker, the combina-` tion of the ejector-fan, the duct leadingtherefrom, the rotary base, the inner duct-section adjustably connected to the base, the outer duct-section slidable telescopically on the inner duct-section, and the frame supplemental to the inner and the outer section, said frame having a bar H H', connected to the inner duct-section, and one or more outwardly-extending bars O, a Wheel p3 at the inner end of said frame, a Wheel p' at the outer end of said frame, the flexible draft device, P, guided on said wheels and united, as at Q, to the outer duct-section, whereby 'the draft device P, when moving in one direction can push the sliding section outward, and when moving in the opposite direction can draw it inward, and means for sustaining the supplemental frame in either of several positions vertically, substantially as set forth.

l-i. In a pneumatic stacker, the combination of the ejector-fan, the d uctleadingtherefrom, the rotary base, the inner duct-section, the outer duct-section slidable telescopically on the inner duct-section, the upwardly-rising support H H', hinged to the rotary base, thebar or frame supplemental to the ductsections and extending forward from said support H H', to points in front of the rear end of the outer duct-section, the adjusting mechanism having an endless flexible draft device, P, connected to the sliding section, means carried by said support H H', and by the supplemental frame for guiding the iiexible draft devices, and means for sustaining vertically the said supplemental frame, substantially as set forth.

15. In a pneumatic straw-stacker, the combination of the fan, the duct leading therefrom, the rotary base, the inner duct-section, the outer duct-section slidable telescopically on the inner duct-section, an upright or bar hinged to the rotary base, and having a ring connected to the inner duct-section land extending to points above said ring, a bar or bars parallel to the inner and outer duct-sections and connected to said ring, a supplemental ring at the outer end of the said bar or bars and loosely surrounding the outer d uct-section, and elevating devices extending from the upper end of the hinged upright to the base for vertically adjusting the ductsections, substantially as set forth.

16. In a pneumatic stacker, the combination of the ejector-fan, the duct leading therefrom, the rotary base, the inner duct-section, the cuter duct-section slidable telescopically on the inner duct-section,the concave bar outside the inner end of the sliding duct-section and situated loosely below the said slidable section, a bar near the inner end of the inner section and hinged to the base, means for rigidly connecting together the outer and inner bars or rings, and means supported upon said bars or rings for sliding the outer duct-section along the inner, substantially as set forth.

17. In a pneumatic stacker, the combina- IOO IlO

tion of an ejector-fan, the duct leading from the fan, the rotary base, the inner duct-section hinged to the rotary base, the outer ducttion and supported at pointsnear the innerl end thereof, truss devices extending from the outer end of said frame to its inner end and connected to the means on the base for adjusting the sections vertically, and means supported on said frame for telescoping the outer duct-section, substantially as set forth.

18. In a pneumatic straw-stacker, the combination of an ejector-fan, thel duct leading therefrom, the rotaryv base, the duct-section vertically adjustable relative to said rotary base,the outer duct-section slidable telescopically on the inner section, one or more uprights or supports rigid with the rotary base, an upright or support hinged to said rotary base, a frame, comprising one or more bars extending outward from said hinged upright, truss devices extending from said hinged upright to the outer end of said frame, means connecting the said rigid support with the hinged standard for adjusting the duct-section vertieally, and means su pported upon said frame for sliding the telescoping section, substantially as set forth.

19. In a pneumatic stacker, the combination of the ejector-fan, the duct leading from the fan, the rotary base, the inner duct-section hinged to said rotary base, the outer duct-section sliding telescopically on the inner ductsection, power elevating devices supported on Vthe rotary base, an upright hinged on the rotary base and extending to points above the inner duct section. and adapted to act as a strut or derrick, a frame consisting of one or more bars extending outward and supplemental to the inner and the outer duct-sections and substantiall y parallel thereto, and a truss device or support extending from the upper end of the said hinged upright to the outer end of the said supplemental frame, substantially as set forth.

20. In a pneumatic stacker, the combination of an ejector-fan,the duct leading therefrom, the rotary base, the inner duct-section vertically adjustable relative to said base, the outer duct-sectionslidable telescopically on the inner duct-section, one or more forwardly-projecting bars connected by a hinge at the inner end to the rotary base, and supplemental and parallel to the inner and outer duct-sections, a strut-like upright or derrick hinged to the rotary base, atruss device or support extending from the upper end of the hinged upright to the outer end of said bar or bars, and elevating devices extending. downward and backward from the upper end of the strut or derrick to the rotary base for adjusting the duct-sections vertically, substantially as set forth.

21. In a pneumatic stacker, the combination of the ejector-fan, the duct leading therefrom, the rotarybase, the inner duct-section, the outer duct-section slidable telescopically upon the inner section, the ring secured to the inner duct-section and hinged to the base below it and having an extension projecting above it, a series of bars projecting forward from the said ring, a ring at the outer end of the said bars, a support extending from the said outer ring backward and relatively upward to the extension above the inner ring,

and means on the rotary base for exerting positive draft upon the last said support for adjusting the duct-'sections vertically, substantially as set forth.

22. In a pneumatic stacker, the combination of the ejector-fan, the duct leading therefrom, the rotary base, the inner duct-section, the outer duct-section slidable telescopically on the inner section, the hinge-bar g', conneet-ed to the inner duct-section and extended to points above said section to form a strut or derrick, as at II', power devices, M', draft devices, L, M, connected to the upper end of the strut, a support, K, for the powerdevices, one or more bars, O, secured to and extending forward from the hinged bar, g', a truss or inclined .connecting device, O?, extending forward from the upper end of the strut or derrick, I-I, to points near the outer end of the bar or bars, O, and means for connecting the bar or bars, O, to the inclined connecting device, O2, substantially as set forth.

23. In a pneumatic straw-stacker, the combination of the ejector-fan, the duct leading therefrom, the rotary base,V the inner ductsection hinged to the rot-ary base, the outer duct-section sliding telescopically on the inner section, a standard or support, K, rigid with the base, an outwardly-extending bar, O, a backward and upward inclined support, O2, means for connecting the support, O2, to the bar, O, and draft devices, as at M, connecting the relatively higherinner end of the support, O2, with4 the standard or support, K, on the base, substantially as set forth.

24. In a pneumatic stacker, the combination of the ejector-fan, a duct leading therefrom, the rotary base, the innerduct-section, a hinge interposed between said duct-section and the base, the outer duct-section slidable telescopically on the inner duct-section, a bar, supplemental to the last said'duct-section and parallel thereto and extending to points outside the inner end of the sliding duct-section and adapted to assist in supporting said sliding duct-section, an antifrictionroller interposed between the said sliding duct-section and the said supporting-bar, means for vertically adjusting the duct-sections around the hinge at the base, and means for positively moving the outer ductsection telescopically on the inner, substantially as set forth.

25. In a pneumatic stacker, the combination with the ejector-fan, the duet leading IIO therefrom, the rotary base7 the 'inner ductsection vertically adjustable relative to the base, the outer duct-section slidable teletially as set forth.

scopically on the inner section, thel supporting-frame, supplemental tothe said duct-sections and hinged t0 the base and arranged parallel to the duct-sections, the antifrictionroller interposed between the sliding ductsection and the said supplemental frame, means supported on the supplemental frame for sliding the telescoping section, power devices supported on the base, and elevatingdevices connected to the supplemental frame at its outer end and extending from said end backward to said power devices, substan- 26. In a pneumatic stacker, the combination ofthe ejector-fan, the duct leading therefrom, the rotary base, the inneriduct-section vertically adjustable relative to the rotary base, the outer duct-,section connected tele` scopically to the inner duct-section and adapted to be rotated around its longitudinal axis, means for adjusting vertically the outer ends of the said sections, means for sliding the outer section on the inner, and means for positively rotating` the outer section around the axis of the inner one, substantially as Set forth.

In testimony whereof I'affix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

WILLIAM N. SPRINGER.

Witnesses:

HENRY C, ROBERTS, JOHN B. BAUHOFMAN. 

